Dishwashing apparatus



M y 5 w. R. WALKER ETAL 2,707,475

DISHWASHING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1951 g sheets sheet 1 ZE'/ 1.1. I6

IMVENTURS WILLARD R. WALKER Jmm HPEIJK .31 Q I:

ATTORNEY y 1955 w. R. WALKER ETAL- 2,707,475

' DISHWASHING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTDR-SWILLARD R. WALKER JDHN B.PEZI3K ATTURNEY United nrsnwAsnrNo APPARATUSWillard R. Walker and John B. Peck, Syracuse, N. Y.,

assignors to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application April 11, 1951, Serial No. 220,379

14 Claims. (Cl. 134-174) and where attempts have been made to createsources of forcefully ejected flush water at different levels toaccommodate multiple racks, difliculty has been had in asuring anadequate and equalized distribution at both levels.

The present invention is directed to apparatus adapted to enhance thesource of ejected wash fluid and to provide substantial sources of flushwater action at levels adapted to effectively cleanse dishes and vesselsdisposed in different racks positioned one above the other.

The invention further has to do with the provision of a relativelysimple impeller pump and jet distributor, preferably involving a singlecentrally disposed moving part, adapted to recirculate wash fluid at ahigh rate. Further, the invention has to do with the mounting of suchapparatus in association with a central sump, and in provision forbalancing the distribution of wash fluid therefrom to suit the needs ofthe apparatus.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear morefully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understoodthat the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and arenot designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the washing apparatus takensubstantially through the center;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the sump andimpeller construction;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 ofFigure 2, with parts broken away to show the underlying impeller;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 ofFigure 2; and

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a tub 10 having a substantiallyconical bottom wall 12, from which de-.

pends a sump 14. The tub is provided with a lid 16 and is arranged toreceive dish racks 18 and 20, formed of wire in any suitable manner. Theupper rack 20 may have an outwardly extending rim 22 adapted to seatupon an annular shoulder 24 formed in the tub side wall immediatelybeneath the lid, and the lower rack may be seated upon abutments 26located adjacent to the juncture of the side wall with the tub bottomwall. The upper rack 20 is preferably arranged to hold glasses, cups andthe like, it being desirable to hold such vessels at an angle in themanner shown for reasons which will hereinafter appear. The lower rack18 may be provided with an elevated central annular silver receiving cup28 and depending from the lower framework of the rack suit able radialbaflles 30 are provided.

The sump 14 has a bottom wall 32, to which is fitted a bearing block 34containing spaced anti-friction bearings 36 adapted to journal animpeller drive shaft 38. Such shaft extends upwardly through the centerof the sump, and is provided with an extension having a screw-threadedcoupling as at 42 with the shaft '38. The shaft extension 40 is providedwith lower spider elements 42 and upper spider elements 44, from whichis supported a tubular conduit 46 affording a passage for wash fluid inthe annular space between the shaft extension 40 and the conduit 46. Theconduit 46 extends upwardly through the annular silver tray 28 and iscapped with a spray nozzle 48.

Dishwashing apparatus of the type herein referred to is adapted tooperate upon a somewhat fixed amount of wash fluid containing detergentwhich may be introduced into the wash tub at the beginning of the washcycle. For suitable washing action, such wash fluid is delivered to theregions in which the dishes are supported under considerable force andin recirculated quantity whereby susbtantially the entire surface areaof the dishes will be subjected to direct impact of the wash fluid thusdelivered. In the present apparatus, provision is made for thedistribution of wash fluid at two different levels, the lower levelbeing especially adapted for the washing of plates, platters, saucersand the like, such as may be arranged in the lower rack 13, and thehigher level be ing adapted by reason of the spray nozzle 48 foreffectively washing glasses, cups, and other vessels as may be arrangedin the upper rack 20. The present invention is particularly directed tomeans for recirculating the Wash fluid for distribution at the twodifferent levels described, such distribution being effected insubstantial quantity and with substantial force.

In order to lift water to the spray nozzle 48, there is provided acentrifugal impeller located within the sump which, together withpassages arranged for the purpose, is adapted to receive wash fluid fromthe bottom of the tub and to drive such wash fluid up the tubularconduit 46 to the nozzle 48. In Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, there is showna. centrifugal impeller 50 having a vane-supporting plate 54, and aninternal upstanding collar 52 secured to the lower end of the tubularconduit 46. The plate 54 of the impeller is provided with a plurality ofvanes 56 adapted to centrifugally throw wash fluid radially outward byrotation of the impeller. Wash fluid is directed from the tub into thecentral annular region above the impeller by a vane constructioncomprising a shallow conical disk 58 having radial vanes 60 suitablyspacing the disk above the tub bottom, and an annular inwardly extendingV- sectioned shoulder 62. The plate 58, vanes 60, and annular shoulder62 are preferably formed as a unit and are secured in place as by screws64, extending through the sump side Wall 66. The disk 58 has a dependinginternal collar 68 to which is affixed a sleeve 70 closely surroundingthe lower enlarged end 72 of the tubular conduit 46.

The impeller 50 is adapted to discharge into a peripheral annular areatherebeneath, and into an annular trough 74 of curved cross-sectionlocated immediately beneath the impeller. The trough is secured to thesump wall by screws 75. Such trough is provided with a plurality ofspiral vanes 76, which vanes support in spaced relation an annular topdisk 73 located immediately below but in slightly spaced relation fromthe impeller plate 54. The space between the annular trough and diskaffords passages from the annular peripheral area to a central region,from which wash fluid is discharged under pressure upwardly into theconduit 46.

The arrangement thus described is such as to receive wash fluid drainingto the bottom of the tub and entering along the vanes 60 to the centralannular space 85),

whence such wash fluid is centrifugally impelled outwardly by theimpeller into the annular space 82. Such wash fluid is then caused toflow inwardly along the stationary spiral vanes 76 and discharge up intothe lower end of the tubular conduit 46.

The disk 58 is arranged relatively close to the bottom Wall 12 of thetub so as to regulate and confine the wash fluid entering thecentrifugal impeller to a portion of the fluid normally lying adjacentthe tub bottom, so that the entire arrangement, including the disk 58 issubmerged during all normal operation of the washing apparatus, a

suflicient quantity of fluid being employed to effect this result.

Wash fluid lying above the disk 53 and w ich may be referred to as thelayer of water adjacent the surface is caused to be diffused by a secondimpeller 84 drivably mounted upon the exterior of the tubular conduit.6. Such impeller is provided with a pair of opposed spiral scoop-likevanes 86 and 88, the lower edges of which reach below the normal surfacelevel of the wash fluid. Such vanes are adapted to throw wash fluid insubstantial quantity and with substantial force radially outward andupward in directions toward the dishes contained in the lower rack 18and the silver container.

The nozzle 48 is provided with suitable orifices 85 which are adapted todirect heavy streams of wash fluid upwardly into glasses, cups, or othervessels held in the upper rack 20. The glasses or cups are preferablystacked on an angle so as to receive such wash fluid directly upon allportions of the interior of such vessels, and it will be understood byso inclining such utensils, wash water will 4 drain from all surfacesthereof, and particularly the upended bottoms of such vessels.

Located between the shaft 44 and the shaft 33 is a disk 99 clampedbetween shoulders on the respective shafts, such disk being adapted tobear in sealing relation upon a graphite ring 92 supported on a washer94. A11 additional seal 96 is provided between the top hearing 36 andthe sealing ring 94-and disk 90. The bearing housing 34 is secured tothe bottom wall of the sump by a nut 93 which clamps the bottom wallbetween washers 10*) and 16:2.

In order to drain the wash fluid from the dishwashing apparatus, theannular trough 74 is provided with a plurality of apertures 104 locatedat the lowest level in the annular trough. The sump, in turn, isprovided with a duct 106 which is provided with a suitable valve Hi8.When the valve is closed, such apertures are ineffective to interferewith the discharge flow from the centrifugal impeller.

The shaft 38 may be belt driven by a pulley 110 at any desired speed, ormay be coupled for direct drive with a suitable motor, it beingunderstood that the impellers 50 and 84 may be designed to accommodateany desired speed of rotation. The construction contemplates that thewash fluid delivered to each of the levels be delivered in suflicientquantities so as to effect a balanced washing action between the dishesand vessels arranged in the upper and lower trays. it will also beappreciated that the vanes 86 and 83 of the impeller 84 may benonsymmetrical; that is, one adapted to direct wash fluid upwardly andthe other upwardly and laterally.

A v ashiug cycle may consist in the introduction of a quantity of rinsewater into the tub ll), closing of the valve 108, and rotation of theimpellers over a short period of time, after which the rinse water maybe flushed from the machine by stopping the motor and opening the drainvalve 1%. Thereafter, a quantity of wash water and detergent at atemperature of approximately 160 F. is delivered to the tub with thedrain valve 103 closed, following which the impellers are rotated for aperiod of time during which the dishes are thoroughly cleansed.Thereafter, such wash fluid may be drained while the impellers aremomentarily stopped and a supply of rinse water thereafter introducedinto the tub when the impellers are again rotated for a period.Thereafter, the drain valve is opened, the motor stopped, the lidopened, and the dishes are allowed to dry. If the final rinse water issuflicicntly hot to thoroughly heat the dishes, the period required fordrying will relatively short.

There is shown surrounding the disk 53 and vanes 6?? an upstandingcylindrical screen 110 which is adapted to prevent l circulation ofsolids which may, in the process, be w bed from the dishes. When thedish washing operation is completed and the trays removed from the tub,such screen can be lifted, rinsed, and the entire machine flushed clean.The mesh of the screen can be of any desired size, and it will also beunderstood that the selection of the mesh will in part control therelative proportions of the Wash fluid handled by the centrifugalimpeller and the scoop impeller.

The arrangement thus described is adapted to deliver a heavy spray orstream of wash fluid by reason of the scoop impeller and the nozzles tosubstantially every part of the tub because of the different levels atwhich the nozzle and the scoop impeller operate. The plates, platters,and the like which may be positioned in the lower rack, do not in. anyway shield the vessels contained in the upper rack from direct wateraction. Such water action in the arrangement shown embodiesrecirculation in large quantities of the wash fluid and the distributionof such Water throughout the tub in substantially every direction withforce sufficient to flush wash the dishes and vessels.

The apparatus may be operated cyclically by automatic timer mechanism,particularly if the initial rinse is dispensed with, since once thedetergent is administered, the wash cycle comprises merely admission ofa quantity of Wash Water, with the drain valve closed, washing for aperiod after which the drain valve is opened, reclosing the valve andadmission of rinse water in one or more stages, after which the drainvalve is opened, the power shut off, and the lid raised to permitevaporation drying of the hot dishes.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to theappended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dishwashing apparatus, a tub having a bottom wall and acentrally disposed sump therein, said sump having a bottom wall having avertical shaft bearing therein, a vertical shaft journaled in saidbearing and projecting upwardly through said sump, a tubular conduithaving an open lower end mounted on said shaft for rotation therewithand extending upwardly into said tub, a pump impeller located withinsaid sump and mounted on the lower end of said conduit, said impellerhaving an imperforate disk secured to said conduit, and substantiallyradial blades mounted on the upper surface of said disk, radial vanescooperating with the tub bottom and radial passages formed in partthereby adapted to deliver wash fluid from said tub into a centralannular area above said impeller in the annular region adjacent theinner ends of said blades, vaned discharge conduit means located in saidsump beneath said impeller extending from an annular area adjacent theperiphery of and beneath said impeller to a region radially inwardthereof and immediately adjacent the open end of said conduit, andnozzle spray means positioned in the upper end of said conduit.

2. In a dishwashing apparatus, a tub having a bottom wall and acentrally disposed sump therein, said sump having a bottom wall havinga. vertical shaft bearing therein, a vertical shaft journaled in saidbearing and projecting upwardly through said sump, a tubular conduithaving an open lower end mounted on said shaft for rotation therewithand extending upwardly into said tub, a radially vaned pump impellerlocated within said sump and mounted on the lower end of said conduit,radial vanes cooperating with the tub bottom and radial passages formedin part thereby adapted to deliver wash fluid from said tub into acentral annular area above said vaned impeller inwardly of itsperiphery, varied discharge conduit means located in said sump beneathsaid impeller extending from an annular area adjacent the periphery ofand beneath said impeller to a region radially inward thereof andimmediately adjacent the open end of said conduit, nozzle spray meanspositioned in the upper end of said conduit, and a diffusing impellermounted on said conduit immediately above said radial 4 passages.

3. In a dishwashing apparatus, a tub having a bottom wall and acentrally disposed sump therein, said sump having a bottom wall having avertical shaft bearing therein, a vertical shaft journaled in saidbearing and projecting upwardly through said sump, a tubular conduithaving an open lower end mounted on said shaft for rotation therewithand extending upwardly into said tub, a pump impeller located withinsaid sump and mounted on the lower end of said conduit, radial vanescooperating with the tub bottom and radial passages formed in partthereby adapted to deliver wash fluid from said tub into a centralannular pump inlet area above said impeller, vaned discharge conduitmeans located in said sump beneath said impeller extending from anannular area adjacent the periphery of and beneath said impeller to aregion radially inward thereof and immediately adjacent the open end ofsaid conduit, nozzle spray means positioned in the upper end of saidconduit, a diffusing impeller mounted on said conduit immediately abovesaid radial passages, and drive means for said shaft.

4. In a dishwashing apparatus, a tub having a bottom wall and acentrally disposed sump therein, said sump having a bottom wall having avertical shaft bearing therein, a vertical shaft journaled in saidbearing and projecting upwardly through said sump, a tubular conduithaving an open lower end mounted on said shaft for rotation therewithand extending upwardly into said tub, a centrifugal pump impellerlocated within said sump and mounted on the lower end of said conduit,means to deliver wash fluid adjacent the bottom wall of said tub into acentral annular area above the center region of said impeller,passage-forming means located in said sump beneath said impellerextending from an annular area adjacent the periphery of and beneathsaid impeller to a region radially inward thereof and leading to theopen end of said conduit, nozzle spray means positioned in the upper endof said conduit, a diffusing impeller mounted on said conduitimmediately above said wash fluid delivering means, adapted to act uponsurface water in the tub bottom, a lower annular dish rack in said tubadapted to receive wash fluid from said impeller, and an upper annulardish rack in said tub adapted to receive wash fluid from said spraymeans.

5. In a dishwashing apparatus, an upstanding tub having a bottom wall ofshallow substantially conical configuration adapted to drain toward thecenter, a circular walled sump depending from the central portion ofsaid bottom wall, said sump having a bottom wall, a vertical shaftbearing in said bottom wall concentric with said sump, a vertical shaftjournaled in said bearing and projecting into said sump, a verticaltubular conduit mounted on said shaft, having an open lower endpositioned within said sump and spaced above the bottom wall of saidsump, a centrifugal impeller mounted upon the lower end of said conduitand within said sump and a discharge outlet at the upper end, means fordraining wash water adjacent the bottom wall of said tub into thecentral region of said sump immediately above the central portion ofsaid impeller, and means beneath said impeller adapted to receive fluidradially discharged therefrom at the peripheral edge thereof and fordirecting and confining the flow of said fluid centrally into the openend of said conduit.

6. In a dishwashing apparatus, an upstanding tub having a bottom wall ofshallow substantially conical configuration adapted to drain toward thecenter, a circular walled sump depending from the central portion ofsaid bottom wall, said sump having a bottom wall, a vertical shaftbearing in said bottom wall concentric with said sump, a vertical shaftjournaled in said bearing and projecting into said sump; a verticaltubular conduit mounted on said shaft, having an open lower endpositioned within said sump and spaced above the bottom wall of saidsump, and a nozzle at the upper end, a centrifugal impeller mounted uponthe lower end of said conduit and within said sump, means for drainingwash water adjacent the bottom wall of said tub into the central regionof said sump immediately above the central portion of said impeller,means beneath said impeller adapted to receive fluid radially dischargedtherefrom at the peripheral edge thereof and for directing and confiningthe flow of said fluid centrally into the open end of said conduit, andan impeller mounted on said conduit above said draining means andbeneath said nozzle and adapted to act upon the surface layer of waterlying in the bottom of said tub.

' sitioned within said sump and spaced above the bottom wall of saidsump, and a nozzle at the upper end, a centrifugal impeller mounted uponthe lower end of said conduit and within said sump, means for drainingwash water adjacent the bottom wall of said tub into the central regionof said sump immediately above the central portion of said impeller,means beneath said impeller adapted to receive fluid dischargedtherefrom at the peripheral edge thereof and for directing said fluidcentrally into the open end of said conduit, and an impeller mounted onsaid conduit above said draining means and beneath said nozzle andadapted to act upon the surface layer of water lying in the bottom ofsaid tub, and annular rack means for supporting dishes on two levels,one for receiving wash fluid from said impeller, and the other forreceiving wash fluid from said nozzle.

8. In a dishwashing apparatus, an upstanding tub having a bottom wall ofshallow substantially conical configuration adapted to drain toward thecenter, a sump depending from the central portion of said bottom wall, avertical shaft journaled centrally with respect to said sump, a verticaltubular conduit mounted on said shaft, having an open lower endpositioned within said sump and spaced above the bottom wall of saidsump and a discharge outlet at its upper end, a centrifugal impellermounted upon the lower end of said conduit and within said sump, meansfor draining wash water adjacent the bottom wall of said tub into thecentral region of said sump immediately above the central portion ofsaid impeller, and means beneath said impeller adapted to receive fluiddischarged radially therefrom at the peripheral edge thereof and fordirecting and confining the fiow of -saidfluid centrally-into the openend of said conduit.

9. In a .dishwashing apparatus, an upstanding tub having a bottom wallof shallow substantially conical configuration adapted to drain towardthe center, a sump depending from1 the central portion of said bottomwall, ,a vertical shaft 'journaled centrally with respect to said sump,a "vertical tubular conduit mounted on said shaft, having an open lowerend positioned within said sump and spaced above the bottom wall of saidsump and a discharge outlet at its upper end, a centrifugal impellermounted upon the lower end of said conduit and within said sump, annularradial channel means for draining Wash Water adjacent the bottom wall ofsaid tub into the central region of said sump immediately above thecentral'portion of said impeller, means beneath said impeller'adapte'dto receive fluid discharged radially therefrom at the peripheral edgethereof and for directing and confining the flow of said fluid centrallyinto the open end of said conduit, and scoop impeller means mounted onsaid tubular conduit immediately above said draining means.

10. In a dishwashing apparatus, an upstanding tub having a bottom wallof shallow substantially conical configurationadapted to drain towardthe center, a sump depending from the central portion of said bottomwall,

and confining the flow of said fluid centrally into the open end of saidconduit.

ll. In a dishwashing apparatus, an upstanding tub having a bottom wallof shallow substantially conical configuration adapted to drain towardthe center, a

sump depending from the central portion of said bot- -1 tom wall, avertical shaft journaled centrally with respect to said sump, a verticaltubular conduit mounted on said shaft, having an open lower endpositioned within said sump and a liquid distributing means at its upperend, a centrifugal impeller mounted upon the lower end of said conduitand within said sump, annular baffle means for separating the wash waterinto lower and upper layers and for draining wash water adjacent thebottom wall of said tub in the lower layer into the central region ofsaid sump immediately above the central portion of said impeller, meansbeneath said impeller adapted to receive fluid centrifugally dischargedtherefrom at the peripheral edge thereof and for directing and confiningthe flow of said fluid centrally into the open end of said conduit, andscoop impeller means mounted on said tubular conduit immediately abovesaid draining means and adapted to act upon the upper layer.

12. In .a dishwashing apparatus, a tub having a bottom wall and acentrally disposed sump therebclow, a vertical shaft journaled centrallywith respectto said sump, a tubular conduit having an open lower endmounted onsaid shaft for rotation therewith and extending upwardly intosaid tub, a pump impeller located within said sump and mounted on thelower end of said conduit, radial vanes cooperating with the tub bottomand radial shallow passages formed in part thereby adapted to deliverwash fluid from said tub adjacent the bottom wall thereof into a centralannular area above the central region of said impeller, vaned dischargeconduit means located in said sump beneath said impeller extending froman annular area adjacent the periphery of and beneath said impeller to aregion radially inward thereof and immediately adjacent the open end ofsaid conduit, nozzle spray means positioned in the upper end of saidconduit, a diffus ing impeller mounted on said conduit immediately abovesaid radial passages and adapted to act upon wash .water lying abovesaid shallow passages, and drive means for said shaft.

13. in a dishwashing apparatus, an upstanding tub having a bottom wallof shallow substantially conical configuration adapted to drain towardthe center, a sump depending from the central portion of said bot tomwall, a vertical shaft journaled centrally with respect to said sump, avertical tubular conduit mounted on said shaft, having an open lower endpositioned within said sump and spaced above the bottom wall of saidsump, a centrifugal impeller mounted upon the lower end of said conduitand within said sump, means for draining wash water adjacent the bottomwall of said tub into the central region of said sump immediately abovethe central portion of said impeller, means beneath said impelleradapted to receive fluid dis charged'therefrom at the peripheral edgethereof and for directing said fluid centrally into the open end of saidconduit, scoop impeller means mounted on said tubular conduitimmediately above said draining means, dish racks supported within saidtuo one above the other, the lower rack being disposed to receive washfluid from said scoop impeller means, and a nozzle on the upper end ofsaid tubular conduit disposed to supply wash i'luid in the region of theupper rack.

l4. ln a dishwashing apparatus, an upstanding tub having a bottom wallof shallow substantially conical configuration adapted to drain towardthe center, a sump depending from the central portion of said bottom.wall, a vertical shaft journaled centrally with respect to said sump,va vertical tubular conduit mounted on said shaft, having an open lowerend positioned Within said sump, a centrifugal impeller mounted upon thelower end of said conduit and within said sump, means for draining washwater adjacent the bottom wall of said tub into the central region ofsaid sump immediately above the central portion of said impeller, meansbeneath said impeller adapted to receive fluid discharged therefrom atthe peripheral edge thereof and for directing said fluid centrally intothe open end of said conduit, scoop impeller means mounted on saidtubuiar conduit immediately above said draining means, dish rackssupported within said tub one above the other, the lower rack beingdisposed to receive Wash fluid from said scoop impeller means, and anozzle on the upper end of said tubular conduit disposed to supply-washfluid in the region of the upper rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSl;46l,979 Foster July 17, 1923 1,620,671 Mei'seles Mar. 15, 19271,893,797 Foster Jan. 10, 1933 1,995,33l Snyder et al. Mar. 26, l935POREiGN PATENTS 649,783 Great Britain an. 31, 1951

